THE HEARTBROKEN sister of a York man who died in a car crash this week has paid tribute to the brother she knew for only seven years.

Loretta Dowson, 20, said she will never forget her half-brother "with a heart of gold", Steve Dowson, 23, whom she met for the first time when she was 13.

Steve, of Bootham Square, was killed in the early hours of Tuesday when the red Ford Sierra he was travelling in smashed into a tree in Boroughbridge Road, Acomb.

The driver, Daniel Baker, 21, and three rear seat passengers, James Martin, 21, Glen Carter, 31, and Portia Jewitt, 17, were also injured in the crash.

Now Loretta and Steve's fiance, Kerry Scott, 24, say his death has left a terrible gap in their lives.

Loretta, of Scarcroft Road, York, said: "He was the only big brother I had, and I've lost him now. He used to say that he'd always wanted a little sister.

"He was so caring and loving. Everyone who met him loved him."

Steve, who often worked as a handyman, had been with Kerry since they met six years ago. They lived together in Bootham Square.

Kerry said they had never had an argument.

She said: "I never had a bad word to say about him. He's the only person I've ever loved dearly - he was my first love.

"He always put other people first. If he didn't have time, he'd make time."

Loretta, who has a son, Owen, aged one, and is expecting her second child in December, said her brother was "wonderful" with children, including his niece, Alea, and his friend Jodie's daughter, Chloe.

She said: "He just loved kids. He would always come and take Owen out. He just loved them."

Steve also had a brother, Kyle, 15, sister Mickayla, 18, and a second sister Tina, 31, who lives in Australia, whom he had never met.

Loretta said Steve was part of a large, but close-knit family.

She thought Steve and his friends had been into York before the crash.

Now she is waiting to learn how the accident happened.

She said: "I don't think it's really sunk in yet. I just want to find out absolutely what happened. Nobody knows yet."

Steve's funeral will be held on Friday at York Crematorium.

Passengers James Martin and Glen Carter remained in Hull Royal Infirmary today.

Daniel Barker and Portia Jewitt are in York Hospital.

Updated: 10:36 Saturday, July 12, 2003